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You are here: Home / Space / What Is Astronomy, What Does Astronomy Mean In Greek, and Why Is the Study of Astronomy Important To Us?

What Is Astronomy, What Does Astronomy Mean In Greek, and Why Is the Study of Astronomy Important To Us?

March 8, 2020 by Karen Hill

Astronomy is the study of matter and processes that exist primarily beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

It covers the whole universe, the heavens, the celestial sphere, from microscopic atoms to the vast cosmos.

Astronomers study the heavenly or celestial bodies such as planets, stars, comets, galaxies, nebulae, and intergalactic material to determine how they formed, how they exist and function, how they interact, and what may happen to them.

It is important to remember that, as a part of the universe, Earth and its processes are included in astronomy.

In fact, Earth is our laboratory.

Everything we know about the universe comes first from what we know about Earth and what we can see, perceive, or imagine from Earth.

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences and has played an important role in understanding the universe.

The word Astronomy comes from the Greek words “astron” (ἄστρον), which means “star”, and “nomy” (νόμος), meaning “law” or “culture”, and put together, literally means “law of the stars”, or “culture of the stars” depending on the translation.

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  • What Is Cosmology, What Does Cosmology Mean In Greek, What Is the Difference Between Astronomy and Cosmology?
  • How do astronomers know how far away stars and galaxies are from earth?
  • How Do You Use Your Specific Location on Earth To Reference Your Position On a Celestial Globe?
  • How is the Universe expanding and Who discovered that the expansion of the universe is accelerating?
  • Why Was the Almagest By Ptolemy Important In Greek Astronomy and What Does Almagest Mean In Latin?

Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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